O Livro dos Mortos

by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

book data

3,169 ratings, 3.91 average rating, 266 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		28%
4		40%
3		25%
2		5%
1		0%

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published

2007 by Ulisseia (first published May 30th 2006)

details

Paperback, 458 pages

characters

Special Agent Pendergast, Lieutenant D'Agosta, Diogenes Pendergast

setting

New York (United States)

isbn13

9789725685679

description

An FBI agent, rotting away in a high-security prison for a murder he did not commit ... his brilliant psychotic brother, about to perpetrate a horrifi…more

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Jul 04, 2008

La Petite rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

bookshelves: guilty-pleasures, kicked_ass

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: Nicole / Smart People

I normally never buy NY Times bestsellers, as it's usually the morons of America that cause the shittiest books ever written to end up on this list. The Book of the Dead was an exception I made. This time American readers got it RIGHT! I just finished this book and I'm still reeling.

This book is the way a thriller/myster should be written. It's full of complex, well-developed characters, it has an evil genius (part Hannibal Lecter, part Sideshow Bob) conspiring to ruin lives, a co...more I normally never buy NY Times bestsellers, as it's usually the morons of America that cause the shittiest books ever written to end up on this list. The Book of the Dead was an exception I made. This time American readers got it RIGHT! I just finished this book and I'm still reeling.

This book is the way a thriller/myster should be written. It's full of complex, well-developed characters, it has an evil genius (part Hannibal Lecter, part Sideshow Bob) conspiring to ruin lives, a cooped-up mysterious girl living in a NYC mansion, seduction, explosions, hypnosis, prison escapes, murders, light shows, ancietnt Egyptian curses, a final showdown on a FRICKIN VOLCANO in Italy, AND A BOMBSHELL ENDING! Christ, this book RULES! -- and it's all written in such a fast-paced way that you NEVER get bored. Extra bonuses?

1) You can NEVER predict anything. Any half-wit could have predicted the ending of The Da Vinci Code, and elements of other great thrillers like Red Dragon and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo also have predictable parts. Not this one. The writers are too smart for you, and they stay 10 steps ahead at all times.

2) The two main characters KICK ASS. The evil genius isn't just bad, he's a meniachal nut-case that you almost have to admire for his psychotic brilliance. His brother, the equally brilliant FBI agent, gets his ass kicked just enough to make him believable, but not a wussy. ROCK ON.

3) I didn't even know until half way through the book that it's the most recent in a series. They give away nothing about the other books, so I can go back to number one and start reading without knowing what happened. WOOHOO!

4) Most importantly, this book isn't just a story. When a book is just a story, I get driven nuts. Good authors, like these ones, include other shit in their books because they're SMART and they know how to keep a reader interested. This book will have you googling shit, looking for places on maps, trying to find out more information about historical figures, downloading classical musicians you'd never ever heard of, and checking up on Oscar Wilde quotes, etc. THIS, to me, is what makes a novel great: elements of intelligence, and not just a stupid story. Think I'm wrong? Uhhh, two words for you: Ken Follet. Here are some more: A.S. Byatt. William Styron. Margaret Atwood. I can keep this up all day.

Anyway, AWESOME READ, am SO going to read this entire series. ROCK AND ROLL!! (less)

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

3 comments

Aug 09, 2008

JoJo rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

bookshelves: edge-of-your-seat-

Read in July, 2008

recommended to JoJo by: found in bargain bin at borders
recommends it for: everyone

i found this book in the bargain bin at the borders where my sister works. the cover interested me and i asked my sister about it, and when she said that people asked her about it a lot, i bought it since with my discount it came to about $2. was a great book and i'm sorry i read it first because its the last book in a trilogy made by the two authors about their FBI protagonist, special agent pendergast. i highly suggest this book, its awesome and i rarely care much for mass market paperback ...more

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Oct 01, 2007

Irishcoda rated it:

(review of isbn 0446618500)

Read in October, 2007

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

The Book of the Dead is the last of three in the Agent Pendergast series. I'm not sure why it's a trilogy, though, because there are actually six or 7 books with that character and they're all somehow related. Dance of Death and this book focus on the hatred and battle between the Pendergast brothers, FBI Special Agent Aloysius and his brilliant but murderously pathological brother Diogenes. The previous book left off with Diogenes framing his brother for some horrific crimes and then stealin...more The Book of the Dead is the last of three in the Agent Pendergast series. I'm not sure why it's a trilogy, though, because there are actually six or 7 books with that character and they're all somehow related. Dance of Death and this book focus on the hatred and battle between the Pendergast brothers, FBI Special Agent Aloysius and his brilliant but murderously pathological brother Diogenes. The previous book left off with Diogenes framing his brother for some horrific crimes and then stealing millions of dollars worth of diamonds from the Museum of History. Aloysius goes to prison and Diogenes drops out of sight...or does he? These two books reunite some old favorite characters from early stories.

Of the Pendergast trilogy, I was most disappointed in this book. I know I'm in the minority because most people really enjoyed the series and I wondered if I missed the boat somehow. The first part of the book was too slow for me. There was too much time spent on trying to break Pendergast in prison and police captain Laura Hayward being too proud to listen to Detective D'Agosta. One thing is for sure: poor Museum of Natural History, site of more brutal serial killings than any where else in the world probably. Two murders occurred before the opening of the Tomb of Senef...given the past history of disaster within the museum you'd think everyone would be more cautious? I guess those monkeys never learn. The one thread I found spooky was when Hugo Menzies/Diogenes came visiting Margo Green. Very creepy!

There was a character that turned me off and why was his last scene with the warden necessary? Agent Coffey. The man should have been deposited in a prison himself, not deported to another FBI office! Everyone of the books has had the prerequisite Ass in Charge.

A plotline that was a total turn off but ended out well: Diogenes seducing Constance Green. I guess it was predictable but it was done too easily. What came later was awesome!

The second part of the book was a lot more interesting and the only reason I gave the book 3 stars. At that point, Pendergast has been broken out of one of those "no one can escape from here prisons" and reunited with his old crime fighting buddy Vincent D'Agosta. Laura Hayward's come to her senses and realizes she needs to unite with D'Agosta and Pendergast to save all those unfortunates in the Tomb of Senef...oh, and she loves him, too.

Best of all was the sudden change in Constance Greene. Her pursuit and battle with Diogenes scenes were the best I've read in a long time.

I felt cheated by "The Event". I absolutely can see one brother goading another into trouble, I just can't see that particular outcome. Diogenes supposedly suffered brain damage in the ventromedial frontal cortex from the incident, which involved lights and sound. For revenge, he wanted to induce it in millions of people. His first two victims had total psychotic breaks and became violent. They were beyond reason and so I wondered how Diogenes was able to think at all or be around people--years of self control? Too weird. I couldn't find any information on the so-called "Higginbottom region" but maybe it's out there somewhere.

I know there's at least one more book now, one that focuses more on Constance Green. I haven't decided whether I want to read it or not. I've been alternately exasperated, bored, and enthralled with the story so far...not sure I've been enthralled enough to move on to the next level.

(less)

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Jul 11, 2007

Donna rated it:

(review of isbn 0446618500)

bookshelves: mystery-suspense

Read in July, 2007

recommends it for: Suspense and mystery lovers

One dreary December evening some years ago, I slogged in to my local Fred Meyer, stamping snow off my shoes, and encountered a tall, friendly, dapper gentlemen hawking paperback books near the door. He introduced himself as Douglas Preston and said the book, Relic, was being made into a movie. I thought, Yeah, sure. So why are you standing here in a deserted grocery store in Kennewick, Washington, on a night like this? I sort of felt sorry for the guy, so I bought the book.

About 24 h...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

2 comments

May 23, 2009

Teresa Watson rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

Read in May, 2009

Things are not going well for Special Agent Pendergast. He's been locked up in a federal prison for a murder he did not commit. His friends, Lt. Vincent D'Agosta, Proctor, Pendergast's butler, and Constance Greene, Pendergast's ward, know who the real killer is: Diogenes, Pendergast's evil brother. The only way they can catch Diogenes is to break his wrongly accused brother out of prison.

At the New York Museum of Natural History, a generous benefactor has donated 10 million dollars t...more

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Jan 22, 2010

Cassie rated it:

(review of isbn 0446618500)

The Book of the Dead is the gripping conclusion to the trilogy. The beginning was a bit slow after the exciting finish of the last book but picked up quickly once the story started moving.

Diogenes is definitely a psychopath but he comes off simultaneously as a little more homicidal and a little less insane in this book. I liked how Preston and Child let us into his psyche for an extended period. He still intrigues me...

Constance has a bigger role in this book. I really t...more

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Sep 30, 2009

Mazel rated it:

(review of isbn 2809800472)

bookshelves: -littérature-étrangère, thriller-ésotérique

Read in October, 2009

Au Museum d’Histoire naturelle de New York, Nora Kelly se prépare à présenter au public le sarcophage de la momie égyptienne Senef. Mais c’est oublier la malédiction qui semble lui être attachée…

En effet, plusieurs employés sombrent dans la folie et assassinent leurs collègues.

Pendant ce temps, avec l’aide de ses amis D’Agosta et Constance, Pendergast parvient à s’échapper de prison. Très vite, il comprend que le responsable des meurtres n’est a...more

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Dec 16, 2008

Diane rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

Read in December, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 08, 2008

Sophiene rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

bookshelves: thriller

Read in December, 2008

I just love the mix of history and thriller. Especially the museum history is fascinating. I'll try to get more of these.

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May 12, 2009

Sara rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

Read in May, 2009

This is the most plot heavy book I have ever experienced. A huge cast of characters involved with murder, mayhem, mummies, poison, suicide, prison, deception, deflowering and the on-the-fly creation of nitroglycerine. You know, because there hadn't been enough craziness going on before. I honestly can't even tell how I feel about this book because I feel so overwhelmed by the amount of information and drama that has been heaped upon me. Did I like it? I think so. I think I liked it. However, I a...more

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Sep 29, 2009

Quinn rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

bookshelves: 2009-books, mystery-thriller

Read in September, 2009

A great deal of detail goes into these books. I felt disappointed by the ending of this book. After toiling through 3 complete novels I expected a cleaner better developed conclusion. The use of Egyptian folklores is captivating and it makes for an extremely interesting book but I felt like the book meandered and strayed off course in the end. I have the feeling that this is not the last Diogenes novel because the ending was so weak. It is hard for me to believe that with all the effort and...more

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Jan 16, 2010

Lisa rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

Read in January, 2010

First preston/child novel I've read and I really enjoyed it. Wish I would have known it was third in a trilogy when I started, as I had a few questions, but overall it stood well on its own. There were a lot of characters, which I found difficult to keep track of. Even now after finishing it I might not be able to identify everyone if you asked me, so don't ask. :)

Pendergast, however, is an interesting and complex character. At first I found his rather flowery speech pattern really ...more

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Mar 27, 2009

Jenny rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

I can't remember if this is a 4 star of 5 and so until I re-read them, this is what you get. What I can tell you is that the Character Agent Pendergast is a lot of fun because he is different and interesting. Oh, I'm also putting these on here because I just talked to Grandma and said I would put these down in case she hasen't read them because they are pretty good. Of course, I told her my kids were entertained at the moment so now would be a good time. Grandma being a mother of a few kids,...more

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Mar 07, 2009

Betita rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

bookshelves: emprestado

Read in February, 2009

Adorei!
Esta é uma triologia de nos tirar o folego, só tenho pena de não ter lido os 3 seguidinhos, pois acabamos sempre por nos esquecer de alguns detalhes que são por vezes muito importantes.
Neste ultimo livros da Triologia de Diógenes somos transportados para as lendas Egipcias e claro as suas inerentes Maldições dos Faraós. Diógenes continua a fazer das suas mas desta vez começa a deixar pontas soltas...
Achei espectacular o "acordar" de Constance na hist�...more

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Nov 17, 2008

JG rated it:

(review of isbn 0446618500)

bookshelves: 3_stars, author_american, author_to_follow, connected_books, fiction, read_in_2009, reviewed, series_done, setting_italy, setting_us, thriller

Read in March, 2009

recommended to JG by: Donna S

Apparently this is the third book of a trilogy and I didn't know it. So I'm all out of order here, but I don't think that has anything to do with how I saw the book.

The Book of the Dead was another page-turner from Preston and Child. I flew through these 600 pages. I was mostly able to get a good idea of what had gone on in the previous two books as I read through.

My complaint is that it seemed to go on and on, beyond all reason. I got to what should have been the cli...more

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Feb 20, 2008

Dave rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in March, 2008

I like the Lincoln and Child books. Not sure why. There's nothing all that remarkable about them, but they are just entertaining stories that are not completely predictable and mindless. I remember reading Relic when I was a kid and loving that, and I have read several more of their novels set in/around the Natural History Museum. Also read The Ice Limit randomly a few years ago and thought it was great.

Now, I saw The Book of the Dead on some shelf somewhere and decided to read i...more

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Feb 17, 2008

Paul rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

Read in February, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Definitely the lesser of all the "Pendergast" novels I've read. Another slaughter at a gala opening at the Museum of Natural History, which makes me wonder why anyone in their right mind would ever walk through the museum's doors, let alone attend a gala opening.

And this books suffers from a problem I detest---the problem of building up an incredibly talented enemy (in this case, Diogenes Pendergast) with knowledge and abilities past anyone, and then taking him down with e...more

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Feb 12, 2008

Nancy rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

bookshelves: adventure, suspense

Read in November, 2006

This book is the end of what the authors call their Pendergast trilogy, which begins with Brimstone and follows with Dance of Death. I have read blurbs by people who say that you can read it as a stand-alone; well, imho, don't even think about it. The first two end as cliffhangers and this one ties everything up nicely. To really understand Agent Pendergast and get the correct reading order, follow the advice of the authors, who have generously put a chronological reading guide to the Agen...more
This book is the end of what the authors call their Pendergast trilogy, which begins with Brimstone and follows with Dance of Death. I have read blurbs by people who say that you can read it as a stand-alone; well, imho, don't even think about it. The first two end as cliffhangers and this one ties everything up nicely. To really understand Agent Pendergast and get the correct reading order, follow the advice of the authors, who have generously put a chronological reading guide to the Agent Pendergast novels in the back of this book.

brief synopsis
And now, if you have NOT read Dance of Death, do NOT read any further. There are no spoilers for Book of the Dead here, but you may wish to turn your head if you haven't read the others.

The New York Museum of Natural History is the site of yet another episode in the Pendergast saga. In Dance of Death, if you recall, the collection of the Museum's most precious diamonds had been stolen by Diogenes Pendergast, Agent Pendergast's twisted brother. Now, at the beginning of this book, they are returned, but ground to a fine powder. It is a public relations nightmare for the Museum, but it's okay; the museum administrators have received a telegram offering them a lot of money to revive an exhibit that has long since been in storage: the tomb of Senef, grand vizier to Thutmosis IV, transported from Egypt to France, then France to Scotland, then back to the US. The staff feels that reviving the exhibit in 21st-century style would be perfect to get the public's mind off of the diamonds. But as the revival and modernizing of the exhibit gets underway, strange things happen that lead some to believe they are being visited by forces implementing the strange curse connected with the tomb.

I can't really say more, because it would really wreck it for others who want to read the book if I blabbed. Suffice it to say that there is a lot of adventure (yes, some of it is highly improbable but it is a blast to read), some mystery, and more answers to questions surrounding the life of Agent Pendergast. If you want to find a fun read, include this one on your list!(less)

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Nov 11, 2009

Coralie rated it:

(review of isbn 0446576980)

bookshelves: 2009

Read in November, 2009

recommends it for: anyone who likes thrillers

Most of the action in "The Book of the Dead" takes place at the New York Museum of Natural History. There's some very wierd stuff happening in New York, and everything is connected to a display at the Museum, a tomb that was left to collect dust in the museum basement that is now being re-opened.
Although I liked this book, it was certainly exciting, I read it in about two sittings, it was scary and fairly gory. I guess you could describe it as a techno thriller. A little to...more

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Oct 22, 2009

Mike rated it:

(review of isbn 1594832285)

Read in October, 2009

Diogenes Pendergast was a thoroughly evil...but there was a reason. So...is to understand all to forgive all? I don't think so.

If your into the Pendergast novels this is a good continuation...but if you're unfamiliar with them...I'd suggest dropping back and starting with the first novel in which Special Agent Aloysius Pendergats appears (Diogenes being his "evil" brother).

These are another set of books I probably would never have tried but for my wife's interes...more

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